Andre Berto Eyes Fall Return, Talks Injury, Quintana Win

By Ryan Burton

 

WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto talks to BoxingScene.com about his 8th round TKO over Carlos Quintana last Saturday night on HBO.  Berto started off rusty but was able to make the necessary adjustments to come away with the victory.  Berto also talks about tearing his bicep in the fight and what this fight meant to him in regards to the tragedy in his ancestral homeland of Haiti in this exclusive interview.

 

BoxingScene.com:  First off congratulations on the victory Saturday night.  How do you rate your performance?

 

Andre Berto:  I give myself about a seven.  I had been out for a while and I was still a little rusty.  I definitely have a few things I need to tweak and try to work on.  All in all it was an all right performance.  I definitely had the close I wanted.

 

BoxingScene.com:  It seemed like in the third round you were a lot more comfortable.  Did you make some adjustments to what Quintana was doing?

 

Andre Berto:  I just had to get used to being in there with a southpaw again.  I had to get in a groove with a slick southpaw again.  It made it a little difficult because I injured my left bicep in the second round but I just got that look back and he started looking a little more familiar after a couple rounds.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Speaking of the second round.  You went down and the referee ruled it slip but on the replay it appeared to have been caused by a punch.  What exactly happened?

 

Andre Berto:  It was a punch.  He hit me right behind my head when I was coming in.  It kind of shook me up.  It hit me right in my equilibrium area and at the same time I had my momentum coming forward so I just fell down.  With my momentum coming forward and him punching me I just went down.  I got up and dusted it off and I was okay from there.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Your hand speed was a lot faster than his.  Do you think that was the main difference in the fight?

 

Andre Berto:  Yeah I think that was the main difference.  That and my power and my aggressiveness.  He was bringing a high pace in the beginning but I knew he was going to slow down so I knew my power and my speed was going to get to him.  I knew he would eventually start breaking down.

 

BoxingScene.com:  In the eighth round you were landing punches almost at will.  Were you surprised the fight was stopped when it was or did you have a feeling it was going to be stopped?

 

Andre Berto:  I thought the referee was going to stop it earlier actually.  I hurt him a couple times through out the fight but he let Quintana take a lot of heavy punches before he stopped it.  I think it was a good stoppage.

 

BoxingScene.com:  You have been on an emotional roller coaster.  First you were training for Shane Mosley and then the tradgedy in Haiti and your family and now finally getting back in the ring.  What did the victory mean to you?

 

Andre Berto:  I believe it definitely meant a lot to a young man like myself going through the things that I went through and what I had seen.  A lot of people would have trouble coming back from a process like that or they can't come back from it.  Mentally it is draining and changes you as a person.  As a fighter I used it for fuel in the ring and I used it to beat Quintana.

 

BoxingScene.com:  What have you heard about your bicep injury?  Do you know when you will be able to start training and get back into the ring?

 

Andre Berto:  I have been into the doctors and I have had an MRI.  I definitely have to take it easy and rehab it.  I think I am going to be out as of right now for six to eight weeks.  After that I should be able to get back in the gym soon.  I want to get back in the ring as soon as possible.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Have you heard an approximate date that you will be returning to the ring?

 

Andre Berto:  I have heard that I should be fighting again in August or September.  Hopefully I will be able to do that.  I just want to get back in the groove.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Is there anyone out there specifically that you want to fight?

 

Andre Berto:  There isn't anyone in particular right now.  I just want to fight the best guys in the welterweight division.  I have pretty much fought plenty of gate keepers at the welterweight division and I continue to prove myself by beating these guys.  I just want to step up and fight bigger names.  If they want to fight then we can make it happen.

 

BoxingScene.com:  Do you have a message for the fans?

 

Andre Berto:  I appreciate everybody's support.  Especially in my trying times.  Hopefully I can bounce back from my performance with Quintana and I can give them many better performances this year and in the future.